Neil Patrick Harris is set to headline the long‑awaited Broadway revival of the 1955 musical Damn Yankees, with the show scheduled to open in the spring of 2027. The production marks the first Broadway revival of the classic in over 30 years and will also feature Julianne Hough as Lola and Austin Scott as Joe Hardy.
Cast and creative team
According to The New York Times, Harris will assume the role of the devilish Mr. App, the musical’s charismatic antagonist. Hough, best known for her success on Dancing with the Stars, is cast as Lola, the seductive lounge singer who tempts the protagonist. Austin Scott joins the trio as the earnest baseball‑player Joe Hardy.
Variety reported that the revival will present a “new adaptation” of the original score and book, though details of the creative team beyond the principal cast have not been disclosed by the producers.
Legacy of the original
Damn Yankees premiered on Broadway in 1955, winning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show’s blend of baseball folklore, Broadway pizzazz, and a Faustian bargain narrative has made it a cultural touchstone, inspiring film adaptations and countless regional productions. Its signature numbers such as “Heart” and “Shoeless Joe” remain staples of the American musical theatre repertoire.
For more than three decades the show has lived primarily in revivals on regional stages and touring companies, with the last Broadway revival closing in 1988. The forthcoming 2027 staging therefore represents a significant re‑entry of the work into the commercial heart of the theatre district.
Anticipated impact
Industry observers see the casting of high‑profile talent as a strategic move to draw both traditional musical‑theatre audiences and fans of Harris’s television work, notably How I Met Your Mother. People.com highlighted the revival as “the first Broadway revival of Damn Yankees in over 30 years,” underscoring its rarity and potential box‑office draw.
“Neil Patrick Harris will play the devilish Mr. App in the first Broadway revival of ‘Damn Yankees’ in more than three decades.” – Variety
Ticket sales for the production opened this week on Broadway.com and other platforms, with early demand prompting a quick sell‑out of premium seats, according to Broadway Direct. The revival is expected to contribute to the ongoing spring‑season surge in Broadway attendance, which has seen a steady rise since the post‑pandemic recovery.
Critics anticipate that the combination of a classic score, refreshed staging, and star power could revitalize interest in mid‑century American musical theatre, offering a bridge between nostalgic audiences and a new generation of theatregoers. The production’s success could also influence future revivals of other dormant classics, signaling a broader trend toward revisiting the Golden Age of Broadway.
